Spring steel shoe with rubber sole



1948- w: J. SPRONG SPRING STEEL SHOE WITH RUBBER SOLE Filed March 29, 1945 IN VEN TOR. WILLIAM J. SPRQNG ATTDRNE-YS FHGURE a.

Patented Nov. 1948 WilliamJ. Sprung, Alhambra, Calif. Application March 29, 1945, Serial No. 585,508

The invention relates to spring steel tires equipped with rubber soles.

An object of the invention is to fabricate a spring steel tire from material that will give both flexibility and strength.

Another object of the invention is to eliminate the use of inner tubes and yet obtain the same cushioning effect as received by the use of inner tubes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a spring steel tire that will save rubber.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a tire that is free frompunctures and blowouts.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention being illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming part of this application in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device applied to a vehicles wheel, and

Figure 2 is an enlarged section along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings wherein similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all figures, the numeral 5 indicates a tire body or casing constructed of flexible material, for example, spring steel and of a configuration substantially that of an ordinary tire casing.

The casing 5 has resilient arcuate side portions 1 and 9. The portions 1 and 9 have their centers spaced apart and are formed integral with an arcuate shaped tread receiving portion I l.

Integral with the side portions I and 9 and extending downwardly therefrom are flange engaging portions l3 and I5.

These flange portions are provided with relatively spaced openings I! arranged circumferentially in the side portions 1 and 9 adjacent the peripheries l8 and I9 thereof.

Circular flanges 2, having openings 25 therein adjacent to the outer or upper periphery 28 thereof are adapted to be positioned on the side portions 1 and 9 in such a manner that the openings I1 and 25 are in alignment with each other.

Retaining or fastening means such as bolts 21, are inserted through the aligned opening to firmly secure the circular flanges 2| to the flange portions I9 and it of the side portions 1 and 9.

The flange 2| have a second series of openings 3| adjacent the inner or lower periphery 33 thereof and these openings 3| are in staggered relation 2 Claims. (01. 152249) 'to the openings 25 and are adaptedto bevaligned with a similar opening M in the rim head 31 of a vehicle wheel 39.

Fastening means such as bolts 4|, are adapted to be received in the aligned opening 3i to securely retain the flanges 2| on the rim head 3! of the vehicle wheel 39. The nuts 21a for the bolts 21 and the nuts 41a for the bolts 4| are secured by welding or in any other suitable manner to the inner sides of the side portions 1 and 9, and to the inner sides of the rim head 31 of the vehicle wheel 39 respectively.

When assembled, the upper periphery 2B of the flanges 2i extend to the junction point 43 of the side portions 1 and 9 and flange engaging portions l3 and l5.

The lower periphery 33 extends to the junction point 45 of the rim head 31 and the wheel 39.

This arrangement provides a strong assembly which will withstand road shocks and eliminates the danger of breakage at the assembly points of connection.

A tread member 41 of rubber or similar material is applied to the tread portion H to assist in absorbing the shocks to which the wheel will be subjected and to obviate the occurrence of noise as the rotating wheel contacts the ground.

The tread member 41 is of circularformation and is adapted to snugly fit and be firmly secured to the tread portion I I of the casing 5.

The tread member 4'! is rounded upon its hearing surface 49 and the sides 5| are inwardly inclined so that the width of the tread member 41 decreases inwardly as the side 5| approaches the bearing surface 49.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided an extremely simple and yet thoroughly eflicient device for attaining the objects set forth.

The tire is constructed in such a manner that sufficient flexibility is obtained throughout the extent of the casing 5 by means of the material from which it is made, and will absorb the shocks in a similar manner as if the casing were made of rubber.

The tread member being formed of rubber assists in absorbing shocks, gives traction to thetire and deadens the noise which would be caused by the engagement of the metal casing with the ground.

It is to be understood that the embodiment herein disclosed is merely illustrated and it is obvious that various changes in the minor details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or extending beyond the scope of the appended claims.

Having'thus described the invention, what is claimed asnew and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the type described, comprising a tempered spring steel body having resilient arcuate side portions and an arcuate tread receiving portion formed integral therewith a rubber traction tread member secured to the outer surface of said tread receiving portion, circular flange engaging portions depending from said side portions, and circular flanges having staggered relatively spaced openings therein aen-gagingthe .outer faces of said flange engaging portions for connecting said flange engaging portions to a vehicle wheel head.

2. The invention as described in claiml wherein relatively spaced openings are provided in said wheel head and said flange engaging portions in alignment with the openings :in .said circular 4 l flanges and means are provided to securely fasten said flange to said head and said side portions of said body. WILLIAM J. S ONG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

10 UNITED STATES FPATENTS Number Name Date 602,934 Buchanan Apr. 26, 1898 608,691 Lloyd Aug. 9, 1898 868,207 Monfort Oct. 15, 1907 15 1,156,348 Frees Oct. 12, 1915 1,241,453 'Vanblom 1 Sept. 25, 1917 1 6663 73 .Feldheim Apr. 17, 1928 FOREIGN PATENTS 20 Number Country Date 359,939 France 1906 

